Stendhal ; Jean Gradassi - Vie de Napoléon - 1965

Life of Napoleon, by Stendhal

With 131 original pochoir watercolor illustrations by Jean Gradassi, including the frontispiece, 14 full-page, 1 double-page, 10 headings, 88 initials, and 17 tailpieces. The text is framed by a border of laurel leaves and imperial eagles.

The Life of Napoleon, by Stendhal, is a biographical text devoted to the figure of Napoleon Bonaparte. An admirer of the Emperor, Stendhal offers a portrait that is both historical and personal, highlighting Napoleon's energy, ambition, and political and military genius. The work is not limited to a simple chronology of events: it seeks to understand the personality of the head of state, his motivations, and his lasting influence on Europe. The style is vivid, analytical, and sometimes passionate, reflecting the author's intellectual engagement.

This edition illustrated by Jean Gradassi stands out for a richly ornamental and meticulous style. His precise line, inspired by illumination and classical illustration, pays great attention to costumes, settings, and historical details. The scenes are carefully composed, in a balanced layout that evokes art books. The use of bold colors and gold highlights gives the images a solemn and almost ceremonial dimension. Through this aesthetic approach, Gradassi does not merely accompany the text: he underscores its epic breath and helps to lend Napoleon’s figure a noble and theatrical aura.

Boulouris, published by Éditions du Baniyan, 1965. 39 x 29 x 7 cm, 287 pp., loose, original illustrated cover, publisher's green cloth chemise and slipcase. Slipcase worn, with a few light stains. Three small stains on the back of the frontispiece. A dent in the upper right corner of the back of the slipcase.